Man United's away form "remarkable" says Louis van Gaal — and not in a good way

Travel sick: Van Gaal has yet to win away as United boss in any competition (Image: Getty Images)

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Louis Van Gaal says he is baffled by Manchester United's failure to win away this season - and told his players to end that run at Arsenal.

The Old Trafford giants have drawn three and lost two on the road in the Premier League this season and are on course for their worst run since 1986, when it took them until Boxing Day to win away in the league.

Van Gaal admitted United must find a cure for their travel sickness and said there was no better place that the Emirates Stadium to do so and give their indifferent season the shot in the arm it needs.

"Normally, for me, away games are not any different in terms of how we play. But it's a fact that we couldn't win until now. Maybe Arsenal will be the first, you never know.

"It's always vital in sport, I believe [to go on a winning run]. Believe me, Manchester United, the manager of Manchester United and all the players and staff want to win every game and we do everything to win the game every week."

United have drawn away to Burnley, Sunderland and West Brom, while losing at Leicester and Manchester City, and their chronic injury list offers little hope they will end that run at Arsenal on Saturday evening .

And if Luke Shaw - a doubt with a tight hamstring - is not passed fit, Van Gaal will have to play Blackett at left-back, with McNair in the centre, comprising a makeshift and inexperienced back-four.

Gunner make it? Luke Shaw could join the long list of absent United defenders (Image: Action Images)

Van Gaal is also set to face Danny Welbeck for the first time since the United boss offloaded the England striker to Arsenal for £16million on summer window deadline day in favour of Radamel Falcao, signed on a season-long loan from Monaco.

Falcao had only just returned from eight months out with a cruciate knee ligament injury and has been sidelined for the past month with a calf problem.

He has scored just once for United and Van Gaal acknowledged the element of risk in signing Falcao, by admitting he is not sure the 28-year-old will be taken on permanently at the end of the season.

"I hope so," said the Reds' new boss . "I hope so. That is clear, I think. But do you think that we expected he would be so many weeks injured?"

Casualty: Falcao missed eight months this year with a knee inury and still isn't 100% (Image: Michael Regan)

When it was pointed out to Van Gaal that he and United decided to sign Falcao knowing he had just come back from a long-term injury, the United boss said that was why the club did not commit to a permanent deal.

"Yes, but because of that maybe we didn't buy him and we've said that already," said Van Gaal. "I don't give any chance to players when they are not fit. Believe me, see my record.

"See the Dutch team, see all my expressions about fitness, you have to be fit. What's your name? It doesn't matter, you have to be fit.

"And now we have a lot of injuries. So they are not fit, I'm sorry. Then I have to manage with the other players. And we believe in these players. And we shall show it.

"I have explained this to my players. It's not only a question of fitness, but also you have to train with the group. Then you have to be better than the players who are on the list. I've said that before. Until now he didn't train with the group, so it's out of the question for him to be on the bench."

Van Gaal says any judgement on the wisdom of his decision to let Welbeck go should be left until the end of the season, when United and Arsenal's respective seasons can be properly assessed.

Friends reunited: Welbeck faces former club United for the first time since joining Arsenal (Image: Action Images)

"If it was the right decision for Manchester United it's dependable on how we play and we score and in what position we shall finish in the league," said Van Gaal.

"But after that you cannot say it is a very good decision or not because we are in another process to Arsenal. They have a manager who has been there 18 years and the playing style in 18 years is the same. So that's very different.

"I have already said what I think - he [Welbeck] was not a line-up player, he was more a substitute than a line-up player and he was already, with different coaches, not a line-up player and then with Mr Van Gaal the world is changing? No, the world is not changing.

"They are the facts. They are not my facts, they are the facts of Danny Welbeck and we have Robin van Persie and we had James Wilson. And when you keep Welbeck then you don't give any chance to youngsters and that is also our philosophy.

"And then also we could buy Falcao. When that is not enough reason, then I don't know what is - then I'm not a very good manager."